After heroic Thai rescue, Australian doctor mourns father's death

CHIANG RAI — An Australian doctor who was at the heart of the rescue of the Thai youth soccer team from a cave emerged last from the flooded complex to learn that his own father had just died.

Anaesthetist Richard Harris, who did the final medical checks of the 12 trapped boys and their coach, was among the divers who successfully ended on Tuesday (July 10) a mission that had gripped the attention of the world.

"Early this morning Harry's father passed away here in Adelaide ... after they'd all come out of the cave," said Andrew Pearce, of rescue service MedSTAR in the Australian city, where Dr Harris is a specialist.

"It was a complete, unexpected shock," Dr Pearce, the organisation's clinical services director, told reporters. He gave no cause of death or the age of Dr Harris' father, Jim.

"Harry put the mission first...now he's having to come to deal with what actually happened overnight," Dr Pearce added on Wednesday.

"You've given your all and then you find out the sad news about your father, who's your best mate. That's really, really tough."

Dr Harris has declined to speak to the media and it was not clear how his father died.

“Our condolences to Doctor Richard Harris, one of the leading rescuers whose father just passed away hours after his rescue mission had been completed,” the Thai Navy SEAL unit said in a Facebook Post on Wednesday afternoon.

“We wish you the best for this very tough time. We never thank you enough for what you’ve done for the kids, their families and Thailand. Thank you, Richard and thank you, Australia!”

The "Wild Boars," aged between 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old coach were trapped on June 23 while exploring a cave complex in the province of Chiang Rai when a downpour flooded the passageways.

British divers found them, hungry and huddled in darkness on a muddy bank in a partly flooded chamber several kilometres inside it, on Monday last week.

Dr Harris played a pivotal role in the rescue effort mounted after days of strategising how to get the boys out, assessing their fitness for the perilous journey back to the outside.

Reports said that he was the last person to leave the Tham Luang cave on each of the thee days rescuers pulled the 13 out - four on Sunday, four on Monday and the rest on Tuesday.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she understood Dr Harris, part of a 20-strong Australian team in the rescue efforts, was the last person to emerge from the cave late on Tuesday as the boys were recuperating in hospital.

She hailed Dr Harris - who has previously participated in natural disaster aid missions in the Pacific – for being an “integral part of the rescue attempt”, describing his role as “quite extraordinary”.

Major Alex Rubin, of the Australian Defence Force, added: "His unique skillset as a specialist doctor and his extensive experience as a cave diver were quintessential to the success of this operation. He is an extremely humble man given the amount of pressure that was placed on him."

Australian Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull, in a video he released of a conversation with Dr Harris, offered his condolences and congratulations on the rescue's success.

"No worries," Dr Harris is heard replying.

"The big heroes in this are the children and the four Thai Navy SEALS who were looking after them. They are the toughest blokes and kids I have ever had the privilege to meet," he added.

"They are the ones who were responsible for their own morale and really their own safety and without them being in the state they were in we couldn't have done anything."

Dr Harris was due to depart for a holiday but cancelled his plans when he received a call from Thai authorities after he was singled out by the British diving team leading the mission as the best person for the job, given his medical skills and three decades of cave-diving experience all over the world.

“Harry is a quiet and kind man who did not think twice about offering his support on this mission,” said Dr Pearce.

“This is clearly a time of grief for the Harris family, magnified by the physical and emotional demands of being part of this week's highly complex and ultimately successful rescue operation."

Dr Harris’ heroics have led some to call for him to be handed the the Australian of the Year award.

“If ever a bloke deserved to be Australian of the Year it’s this man,” editor of Sunday Mail Queensland Peter Gleeson wrote on Twitter. “He’s what embodies the true spirit of this country.” AGENCIES

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